The nearly complete left cheek piece for a multi-piece or Spangenhelm type
helmet. These helmets were used for a long period in ancient times,
spanning the 2nd to late 7th Century. There are depictions of them
on Trajian's column and other Roman gravestones or carvings right through
to the end of the Western empire. Their use continued into the
Byzantine empire and beyond.

This particular style with the cut out cheek bone area is
however more closely tied to the Roman period. This type of cut out
was commonly seen on Intercisia Ridge helmets as well as Berkasovo helmets
all prevalent during the 4th and early 5th century. Later helmets
tended to have simple cheek pieces with no cut out and became known on the
Baldenheim helmet types.

The Spangenhelm actually consisted of between 4- 6 bowl
pieces that were then riveted togeth with strips of iron. This was
all attached to a base ring from which nose guards (on some of them) or
cheek pieces were added.

Different styles of Spangenhelm

This cheek piece is well preserved and only has some of the top portion
missing where the hinge was riveted on. This was either lost during
ancient times during its removal or corroded more heavily now making it
lost.

The piece still retains its remarkable curve, which would not only have
served to make it fit more comfortably, but to also help strengthen it
from impact and to deflect glancing blows.

The holes were spaced quite evenly and are of a larger variety then the
holes normally seen around the Berkasovo helmets. The hole were
clearly punched out as part of the material pushed out is still visible on
the reverse. This feature supports the fact that these helmets had a
different type of stitching which needed a larger hole. This
stitching is shown here in a remarkably preserved Baldenheim helmet cheek
piece.

This type of stitching was long known in the Roman period and there is
evidence that it was used to stitch Scale armor edging as preserved
examples exist from the 1st and 3rd Century. The cheek piece would
also likely have had some type of padding sewn to the back with some
leather covering it.

This cheek piece has a nearly identical resemblance to a known example on
a complete Roman Spangenhelm now at Leiden dating to the 3rd century.

Over all a rare find and an excellent example of a later period piece of
armor. (1,2,3,4)